FRANCE-POLLUTION Paris cuts traffic in half to combat heavy pollution

Record ID: 217088

  • Title: FRANCE-POLLUTION Paris cuts traffic in half to combat heavy pollution
  • Date: 23rd March 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 23, 2015) (REUTERS) FACTORY SMOKESTACK EMITTING SMOKE TOURISTS LOOKING AT VIEW FROM SACRE COEUR CHURCH BUILDINGS UNDER SMOG / SKY VARIOUS OF POLICE WATCHING CARS PASS POLICE STOPPING CAR WITH EVEN LICENSE PLATE POLICE OFFICER TALKING TO DRIVER LICENSE PLATE ENDING IN EVEN NUMBER (SOUNDBITE) (French) VISITORS TO PARIS FROM ROUEN, MARIE AND FRANCK, SAYIN
  • Embargoed: 7th April 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACEB9NUOGHM4UW1A5PY2X63OOS
  • Story Text: The city of Paris banned 50 percent of motor traffic Monday (March 23) in an effort to combat high air pollution levels.
    Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced Sunday that all vehicles with even-numbered license plates would not be allowed to drive in the nation's capital and 22 of its surrounding suburbs for 24 hours.
    Police officers were posted on the outskirts of the city, controlling traffic and pulling over offending drivers, including Franck and Marie, two visitors from Normandy.
    "We think this is a good thing first for traffic, it's much nicer to drive in Paris with half the number of cars. We're from the country, so there you go. And then for the environment, it's a good thing," motorist Marie said.
    Cars with even-numbered license plates which did not comply were subject to a 22 euro fine on the spot, or 35 euros if they could not pay immediately.
    This is the second time the city of Paris has employed these anti-pollution measures, referred to as "alternate circulation". The first time was in March 2014, after which the Airparif air quality surveillance agency reported a 6 percent decrease in particle pollution.
    Some vehicles were exempt from the rule, including hybrid and electric vehicles, vehicles transporting more than three people, public service vehicles, taxis, vehicles with foreign plates and vehicles transporting disabled or sick passengers.
    Paris resident Samira, who fell under the list of exemptions because of a health issue, said she thinks the anti-pollution measures are a good idea.
    "I am a bit asthmatic, and so is my mother. So I think it's a good thing, I can understand. So now I think it's true that we notice less pollution because of these measures," Samira said.
    But other commuters in the city were not convinced the measures would be effective in curbing widespread pollution on a large scale.
    "Oh my, the right license plate? Sure, but that's just for today, that's not helpful, it's useless. They're trying to come up with a long-term thing, but I don't think it's traffic that causes pollution, but rather factories and all that," said motorcycle driver Fahed.
    Last December, Hidalgo called for diesel cars, which cause the most particle pollution, to be banned from the French capital by 2020 and said pedestrian-only neighbourhoods should be created in the city centre to fight pollution.
    Public transportation, including the Paris metro, was free to the public at the weekend and on Monday.
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